http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Topic: "Essential cycling skills" sessions en Mon, 18 May 2026 22:20:15 +0000 http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=10243#post-134166 Fri, 22 Nov 2013 23:16:33 +0000 Smudge 134166@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Like the video idea. I can be (am) an IAM motorcyclist if you want demonstrations of safe/unsafe passes... </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=10243#post-134119 Fri, 22 Nov 2013 18:47:54 +0000 adamthekiwi 134119@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>I know I shouldn't read the comments, but this stream of consciousness just made me smile:<br /> <blockquote>they forget to give way especially when coming down a hill in the dark mornings with no colours or lights screaming help can stop to late bang?</blockquote> </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=10243#post-134117 Fri, 22 Nov 2013 18:44:17 +0000 Dave 134117@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p><em>And this is why cycle training is the solution; the truth is I'm only scared because I don't know what I'm doing.</em></p> <p>The above is an amazing advert for cycle training, but not an attitude I can imagine surviving more than a couple of minutes away from the safe grassy environment of the Meadows.</p> <p>That's not to detract from training in any way - I think the piece is possibly underplaying the excellent thinking behind some confidence boosting cone-dodging and hand clapping activity for the inexperienced.</p> <p>Nevertheless I volunteer to take VICKY ALLAN on a tour of Edinburgh's cycling black spots in rush hour and see if I can't persuade her that <em>"I wasn't really scared because I had no idea how bad the reality is"</em>... </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=10243#post-134114 Fri, 22 Nov 2013 18:33:38 +0000 Edinburgh Cycle Training 134114@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>The problem is not cyclists adopting a primary road position. The problem is careless and dangerous drivers and poor infrastructure. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=10243#post-134107 Fri, 22 Nov 2013 18:15:50 +0000 algo 134107@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p><em>As long as we train cyclists to ride out in the primary position, without training drivers that that's where the bikes are supposed to be, we're going to have hostility on the roads ...</em></p> <p>exactly - I've tried to say this before, but not as articulately. The disparity between what we are taught and where non-cycling drivers think we should be is the big problem for me. That's why I would have like to have the NWC posters showing examples of primary position - using that vernacular and introducing drivers to it. Instead they made a total arse of it. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=10243#post-134087 Fri, 22 Nov 2013 17:25:46 +0000 Edinburgh Cycle Training 134087@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>"As long as we train cyclists to ride out in the primary position, without training drivers that that's where the bikes are supposed to be, we're going to have hostility on the roads ..."</p> <p>very possibly, but possibly less accidents involving cyclists? </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=10243#post-132861 Sat, 16 Nov 2013 18:35:46 +0000 Snowy 132861@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>That's rather a good idea. I volunteer to be either a cyclist or the IAM driver *ducks in case of rotten fruit being thrown at IAM member*. My videography skills are fairly non-existent though. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=10243#post-132860 Sat, 16 Nov 2013 17:25:24 +0000 Greenroofer 132860@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>OK, so I <em>did</em> read the comments. Somebody made an interesting one "<em>maybe they could do a similiar one to the Lothian Buses video for car drivers and show car drivers how to overtake cyclists safely</em>"</p> <p>Well? Could someone on here do it? We'd need an experienced videographer, a confident car driver (ideally IAM or otherwise professionally-qualified) and a cyclist or two. I volunteer for the last of these roles, but am not qualified for the others.</p> <p>We'd also need some cheesy music, if it's going to be anything like the Lothian Buses video... </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=10243#post-132843 Sat, 16 Nov 2013 11:43:03 +0000 sallyhinch 132843@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>As long as we train cyclists to ride out in the primary position, without training drivers that that's where the bikes are supposed to be, we're going to have hostility on the roads ... </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=10243#post-132838 Sat, 16 Nov 2013 11:12:14 +0000 chdot 132838@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>"<br /> CYCLING TRAINING</p> <p>There ought to be a word for the fear of cycling in cities. Most of the research into why people don't cycle has found the reason is simple: they are scared. A 2007 report by the Department for Transport, found that 47% of adults "strongly agree that the idea of cycling on busy roads frightens me'".</p> <p>I am one of these people. When I am forced to think about why I have avoided cycling in cities, I have to admit I am scared. I had the traversing of a city on two wheels marked off as an extreme sport. This is not because I have had some awful bike experience.<br /> It is simply because I am chicken.</p> <p>I have pretended that this is not the case. I have proclaimed that I just like walking. Or said that I don't have a bike. I tried that excuse when I was asked if I would try out one of the Essential Cycling skills training sessions run by Cycling Scotland.</p> <p>So, I borrowed a bike. Level one of my training took place in the Meadows, Edinburgh, on - to my horror - grass. There were small plastic cones on the ground. Seeing the cones, I wanted to protest that I could ride a bike, without stabilisers, and that my problem was<br /> just fear of roundabouts and junctions and roads where drivers, Hke myself, acted like maniacs. But this is where we start, going round in tight wobbly circles, trying to clap hands with other riders or, later, riding in straight lines and being told to turn as we cycle and look backwards and count the fingers my instructor is holdng up. Being safe on the road, I am told, is about being comfortable on your bike. "The biggest barrier holding people back is the<br /> perception of danger," says Matthew MacDonald of Cycling Scotland. "The training we deliver addresses a lot of the barriers that people face."</p> <p>One of my problems with city cycling is that I've never known the rules, beyond a few hand signals I was taught by a policeman at school. And this is why cycle training is the solution; the truth is I'm only scared because I don't know what I'm doing.</p> <p>On this first, adapted session, they do, finally, let me out on to the road, and the real eye-opener is positioning. I am told to imagine two tracks on the road and the first, the main one, is in the left hand wheel line of the car. This rule is a revelation since my instinct would have been to hug the gutter. Even knowing this increases my confidence. I find myself wanting a bike, annoyed that I never had one. I imagine I might get over my fears and become that brave urban warrior, the cyclist.</p> <p>VICKY ALLAN</p> <p>Cycling Scotland runs the Essential Cycling Skills course through Edinburgh Bike Co-op, and is launching the courses in Glasgow on November 30 at Glasgow Bike Station. See <a href="http://www.cyclingscotland.org" rel="nofollow">http://www.cyclingscotland.org</a></p> <p>"</p> <p>Today's Herald mag </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=10243#post-113347 Fri, 07 Jun 2013 08:15:28 +0000 chdot 113347@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>£10 for two hours, dates -</p> <p><a href="http://www.edinburghbicycle.com/blog/2013/05/edinburgh-shop-pilots-essential-cycling-skills-classes-for-adults" rel="nofollow">http://www.edinburghbicycle.com/blog/2013/05/edinburgh-shop-pilots-essential-cycling-skills-classes-for-adults</a> </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=10243#post-111386 Tue, 21 May 2013 20:52:42 +0000 Smudge 111386@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Must. not. read. comments.... </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=10243#post-111369 Tue, 21 May 2013 17:03:45 +0000 Focus 111369@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>It took more than an hour! :-o Even one of the usual suspects (with his typically incorrect monicker) actually made a positive comment for once in his existence. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=10243#post-111339 Tue, 21 May 2013 13:08:30 +0000 Wilmington's Cow 111339@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>I can hear the commenters' synapses misfiring.</p> <p>Grrrr! Cyclists, all they do is ride on the pavement and run red lights! And then, and then... Oh, this is something to make them be more confident so they won't cycle on the pavement? And it includes teaching them how to ride on the road correctly? Erm... Um... Grrrr! Cyclists getting in my way on the road! </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=10243#post-111337 Tue, 21 May 2013 13:04:05 +0000 cb 111337@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Not sure if something about this has been posted before.</p> <p><a href="http://www.scotsman.com/news/transport/plan-to-boost-cyclists-confidence-on-city-roads-1-2938149">http://www.scotsman.com/news/transport/plan-to-boost-cyclists-confidence-on-city-roads-1-2938149</a></p> <p>"<br /> NERVOUS cyclists will get the chance to boost their confidence under a training project being piloted in the Capital.</p> <p>The initiative, launched today by Cycling Scotland, will offer adult cyclists a choice of four “Essential Cycling Skills” sessions to encourage new and returning cyclists to take to the road.<br /> "</p> <p>Includes the advice, "Use straight arms with big palms to let others know where you are going"</p> <p>My hands are quite small - should I not be cycling? </p>